Colusa County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential Front (primary)
- 20 ft (15 ft in R-4) - Table 44-2.30-2
- Residential Rear (primary)
- 20 ft (R-R/R-1); 15 ft (R-2/R-3/R-4)
- Residential Side (primary)
- Interior 10 ft (R-R) / 6 ft (R-1-R-4); street side 8-10 ft
- Accessory Structure
- Front 20 ft, rear 5 ft, side 3-5 ft; 5 ft from any building
- Agricultural (ag structures)
- Front 20-25 ft, rear 20 ft, side 10 ft
- Varies by Zone
- Confirm zoning with Colusa County Planning Division
Summary
Colusa County's Zoning Code sets minimum building setbacks by zone. In the main residential zones, primary structures need a 20-foot front setback (15 feet in R-4), a 15-to-20-foot rear setback, and a 6-to-10-foot side setback. Agricultural and commercial zones use different distances.
Minimum Setbacks (Primary Structure): Front 20 ft / 20 ft / 20 ft / 20 ft / 15 ft; Rear 20 ft / 20 ft / 15 ft / 15 ft / 15 ft; Interior Side 10 ft / 6 ft / 6 ft / 6 ft / 6 ft; Street Side 10 ft / 8 ft / 8 ft / 8 ft / 8 ft (R-R / R-1 / R-2 / R-3 / R-4).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
The Colusa County Zoning Code (Article 44-2) establishes minimum setbacks in development-standards tables that vary by zoning classification. In the residential zones - Rural Residential (R-R), Single-Family (R-1), Two-Family (R-2), Multiple-Family (R-3), and Apartment-Professional (R-4) - the minimum primary-structure setbacks are: front 20 feet (15 feet in R-4); rear 20 feet in R-R and R-1, and 15 feet in R-2, R-3, and R-4; interior side 10 feet in R-R and 6 feet in R-1 through R-4; and street side 10 feet in R-R, 8 feet in the others.
Accessory structures have reduced setbacks: front 20 feet, rear 5 feet, street side 10 feet, and interior side 5 feet (in the front half of the lot) or 3 feet (in the rear half), and must stand at least 5 feet from any building. In the agricultural zones, agricultural structures generally require a 20-to-25-foot front setback, a 20-foot rear setback, and a 10-foot side setback, while non-agricultural structures need 25-foot front and rear setbacks and 20-to-25-foot side setbacks. Commercial and industrial zones have their own front, rear, and side standards (some allowing no setback).
Setbacks are measured from the property line to the structure, and a 15-foot front setback applies in some commercial zones adjacent to a residential zone. Owners should confirm their parcel's zone with the Planning Division.
Violations & Fines
Building or expanding a structure within a required setback is a zoning violation enforced through the county's code-compliance and building-permit process; plans that encroach into a setback will not pass plan check. Relief from a setback requires a variance approved by the county. Existing structures that lawfully predate current standards may be treated as legal nonconforming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far from the property line must I build in unincorporated Colusa County?
Are setbacks smaller for a shed or detached garage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colusa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Colusa County to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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